Pretty Pink Peonies

I love my peonies! Such a beautiful flower. I just wish they weren't so full of ants. I guess this is because of the sweet nectar that forms on the outside of the buds that they like to eat. I've heard that the ants actually open the buds, but looked it up and it is really just a myth. A small trick for cutting the flowers and bringing them indoors without bringing the ants in too, is to try cutting the flowers before the ants get inside. Cut the flowers when the color is showing and the bud feels like a marshmallow. You can remove the ants more easily and the flowers should open for you within a couple days. :)